Always obtain full commitment from senior level staff before
embarking on a waste management project.
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| Stage 1 - preparation
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| 1. |
Prepare and organise audit team |
Select staff from all departments and levels
of the organisation |
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| 2. |
Divide processes into unit operations |
Who has responsibility for each area of the
business? |
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| 3. |
Create process flow diagrams |
Link the unit operations to gain a clear picture
of the whole business |
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| Stage 2 - material
balance |
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| 4. |
Determine process inputs |
Measure water, raw material and energy inputs
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| 5. |
Record current levels of recycling / reuse
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Remember to include factory floors, offices
and canteens |
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| 6. |
Measure process outputs |
Quantify products and by-products including
wastewater, gaseous emissions and off site wastes |
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| 7. |
Derive a material balance |
Use input and output information, evaluate
and refine the balance |
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| Stage 3 - synthesis
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| 8. |
Identify waste reduction options |
Target and characterise problem wastes
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| 9. |
Investigate waste segregation |
Try colour coding waste streams and grouping
like materials together |
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| 10. |
Identify long-term waste reduction measures
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Prioritise problem wastes, and try to eliminate
hazardous wastes by substitution |
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| 11. |
Evaluate waste reduction options |
Environmental and economic evaluation of waste
reduction options |
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| 12. |
Waste reduction action plan |
Design, plan and implement. Choose 'easy wins'
first to achieve fast results. Don't forget staff training, report results
company wide |
Follow these simple steps to carry out a waste audit. Think long term when considering
process and clean technology investments. Always try to eliminate hazardous chemicals
by substituting with less harmful ones, or making process changes. 
